International Journal of Medical and Health Research

Authors
Dr. Shikha Rani

Abstract
Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) provides long acting effective and reversible contraception in postpartum period. Aims Objective: Present study aims to study the effects of DMPA injection in immediate postpartum period by asing it for six months for contraception just after delivery in postpartum patients. Methods: Prospective case control study was done in which 250 women were recruited. One hundred and fifty woman were given injection DMPA 150mg intramuscularly before discharge from hospital and then at three months. One hundred postpartum women, not using hormonal contraception were taken as controls. They were followed at six weeks, three months & six months. The mean comparison between the two groups was done by using student t-test chi-square or Fisher extract test. Results: There was a significant gain in weight after three months (p value<0.01) and six months was higher in DMPA user than controls [{3 months 0.77+0.42gm%vs0.48+0.48gm%, p value<0.01), (6 months 1.1+0.44 vs 0.46+0.49, p value <0.01)}] In the study group, a progressive rise was observed in triglyceride (TGL, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and Total cholesterol (TC), with a fall in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) but the changes were clinically not significant. No significant change was observed on blood pressure, blood sugar and liver function test (LFT). 72.5% women reported irregular bleeding at six weeks and 8% of women at six months. At six months, amenorrhea was significantly higher in study group than controls (% and 30%). There was no case of pregnancy in uses of DMPA while seven women among controls conceived during study period. Conclusion: Injectable DMPA use in the immediate postpartum period is a safe and effective method of contraception.